Page:Montesquieu - The spirit of laws.djvu/92

40 could not be revoked, they contrived to allow them thc liberty f defending themselves.

There is one thing however that may be opposed to the prince's will ; namely, religion. They will abandon a parent, nay, they will kill him, if the prince so commands; but he cannot oblige them to drink wine. The laws of religion are of a superior nature, because they bind the prince as well as the subject. Bur, with respect to the law of nature it is otherwise; the prince is no longer supposed to be a man.

In monarchical and moderate dates, the power is limited by its very spring, I mean by honor, which like a monarch reigns over prince and people. They will not here alledge to their prince the laws of religion; a courtier would think this would render him ridiculous. But the laws of honor will be alledged on all occasions. Hence arise the restrictions necessary to obedience; honor is naturally subject to whims, by which the subject's obedience will be always directed.

Though the manner of obeying be different in these two kinds of government, yet the power is the same. On which side soever the monarch turns, he inclines the scale, and is obeyed. The whole difference is, that in a monarchy the prince has the assistance of instruction, and his ministers have a far greater capacity and are better versed in affairs than the ministers of a despotic government. Rh